The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1887-03-20
AN OLD MANS STORY
A TALE OF MYSTERY TOLD BY THE FIRE
LIGHT.


night. con the seacoast OF this State, a
fourishing town, which years ago was one
of the principal ones of this part of the
country. When was mere lad, not more
than twenty, went there and took charge
of a small school, little outside the town
sandy beach. was poor, but life was full
Of promise to me, and as ia ught studied
and laid the foundation of what proved a
sound education, making good use of my
spare time IN picking up odds and ends
from personal research and the books
could obtain. My school prospered and
was held in universal esteem by those
whose children 1 was occupied in training
sit was in the early Spring and on one
beautiful, starry night, wandered forth to
enjoy the soft air which was SO welcome
after the cold winter winds, taking my
usual walk along the cliffs, far from the
quiet town. had had hard day and as /
strolled along / let my thoughts run wild
and paid little heed how far 1 went or in
what direction. I had probably gone
mile or SO from my home when suddenly,
without having heard footstep or sound,
l was thrown heavily to the ground, my
eyes bandaged and my limbs bound v it'll
\ rough cords which cut my skin. My cries
were quickly stilled. My attempts to
escape were perfectly in vain and felt my
self raised up and carried away on the
shoulders OF what seemed to be number
Of men. To describe my sensations at the
time would be impossible. Their were no
foot-pads or robbers ever in the neighbor-
hood, and had net an enemy in the world.
The reason why anyone should want to
kidnap me or play practical joke could
mr. ha n v of nod
to simply keep still and wait the outcome,
intending, however, to give my unknown
foes rough time if personal assault was
their object.
SIN the meanwhile was being carried
rapidly across the fields away from the
coast, how far I don't know, but soon I
heard the stamping of horses and was
lifted into some sort of vehicle, and a
word of command having been given, was
quickly driven away, out in what direction
could not ascertain, but resistance was
useless, for I could tell that at least eight
or ten men were with me in that carriage
or wagon.
SIT seemed to me that fully an hour
elapsed before we stopped, and then 1 was
lifted again and borne steadily on the
shoulders of the men, down what must
have been some narrow path toward the
beach, And then heard the roaring of the
surf, the breaking of the waves, and the
party stopped. l heard the murmuring of
voices and soon boat wss launched, and
in a moment was placed inside. | could
hear the men take their places by the oars.
and then with easy motion, to and fro, l
heard the oars dip in and dip out of the
water, and felt the heavy ocean swell move
the boat up and down as it glided over the
waves.
.sBy this time I had begun to fear had
been the victim of press-gang or some
thing of the sort, and my teal IS were well
founded when we approached vessel and
l could hear the boat fastened to its side
I was carried on board and taken below. |
felt the close air of the main cabin, and
then was led into a smaller one where my
arms were unbound and my eyes unban-
daged. A small lamp lit up well fur
nished cabin, and when my eyes grew ac-
customed to the light saw it was occu-
pied by three men, masked and holding
pistols in their hands, ready for use should
i make resistance.
zone of these men motioned me to a
seat and said. as l seated myself: young
man, we have no desire to harm you in
any way. by word or deed. but we have
brought you hither for an object, and that
we intend to accomplish. No one knows
of your being here, and unless you do as
you are commanded you will be lost to the
world and the sea will gain another VIC
tim
ssFor the love of heaven" l began, inter-
\ rupting him, with a voice shaking with
fear, bat got no further, or in voice OF
thunder he cried out:
ssSilenee; dare to utter one word and you
are a dead man. This is the last time l
shall say it, Do silently what We ask and
your life will be spared, but one word, one
motion to resist, and by heaven! I'll shoot
YOU where you stand.
81 sank trembling into my seat again and
waited in fear for what should happen
next His warning was useless, my nerve
had deserted me, and l could not have
spoken if had been hidden.
'And now the cabin door opened and in
came a number of men, one of whom was
evideptly'a clergyman and another a wo-
man. SO closely yelled that she was I'M
recognizable, but by her appearance and
yicor. one still youthful. Her hair was
clearly seen from under the back Of her
veil. and was fair, so bright that it indeed
seemed spun from gold. She had evident
Nv been warned against speaking also, for
AtEough she trembed as she leaned on her
guides arms as if in fear, she uttered no
sound At a sign frem one of the men, the
clergyman advanced Ito where the girl
stood and | was led to her side and direct
ly in front of him. Aad now it all flashed
kIpon me was to be married to this woman
whether / wished it or not. Married on a
3hip, rolling gently on the quiet sea not far
from my home, perhaps, and as pcweTless
Do prevent the Ger, mjDy, if | still wished
10 live, as one coulo possibly be, fe by my
feyered brow l col feel the cold muzzle
of pistol ready to do its deadly v ok il |